Conservative MP Matthew Offord has urged Barnet Borough Council “not to sweep their issues under the carpet” after a damning report into the way the authority’s legal services are run.

Out of the borough’s three Tory MPs, Mr Offord was the only one willing to speak on the matter – Finchley MP Mike Freer was “very busy”, according to his assistant, and Chipping Barnet’s Theresa Villiers was unavailable.

The report, by independent lawyer Claer Lloyd-Jones, criticised the authority for employing “inexperienced” staff members in key roles and said “nobody” at the authority understands government law.

It was commissioned after a council meeting on June 2, where a series of blunders led to members’ allowances being approved before being cleared by a legal team and led to an error in the way committee seats were allocated, halting decision-making for one month.

It also raised concerns that the monitoring officer, Maryellen Salter is an accountant with no legal background and was unable to offer “high-level legal advice” on certain matters.

Hendon MP Mr Offord told the Times Series: “This is a serious report and it’s concerning that professional advisers have got something wrong.

“I would urge the council to rectify that so we’re not put into this position of making decisions where there’s no legal basis to do so.

“The next steps are pretty clear now the report has been published.”

Barnet Council's Labour group has since tabled a motion for a vote of no confidence against Tory leader Councillor Richard Cornelius.

In response, deputy leader Cllr Dan Thomas put out a statement saying the authority was one of the “best and most effective council’s in the country”.

When asked whether he felt Cllr Thomas was avoiding the issue, Mr Offord added: “I haven’t seen Dan’s statement but it’s important this isn’t swept under the carpet.

“If there’s a refusal to address what’s going on, then that’s an issue.

“I have confidence the leader will take appropriate action. We’ll have to wait and see what steps he takes."

Speaking about the vote of no confidence, Mr Offord said: “You are never going to have confidence in someone of a different political party to you.

“The Labour group should be cautious about doing this too regularly. They must be restrained and only bring this forward when there’s a genuine issue.

“I was at the meeting on June 2 and elected representatives can’t be held responsible for the advice given to them by officers.”